President Barack Obama's declaration in 2015 that Black women "face real and persistent challenges," followed by a White House summit to explore expanding opportunities for women and girls of color, was a watershed moment. But it didn't come out of nowhere.

This important recognition reflected years of work by AAPF and a number of visionary activists and advocates who mobilized around the #WhyWeCantWait hashtag throughout 2014 & 2015, elevating the life experiences of women and girls of color and pushing for the incorporation of gender in our definition of racial justice.